How much water is in my
pondless waterfall and stream?
To calculate how much water is in your pondless waterfall and stream, you need to measure the water that is "in motion". The water falling through the air in the waterfalls, and the water flowing in the stream. Total water motion is calculated by adding the total height of the waterfalls and the total length together.
(Length + height) x width x depth = total water volume in cubic feet
1 cubic foot of water holds 7.48 gallons of water.
Add the height of your waterfalls to the length of your waterfalls, then multiply by the width, then multiply by the depth, and then multiply by 7.48.
For example:
This pondless waterfall with stream design calls for a 2' high waterfall with a 30' long x 1.5' wide stream
- 30' long stream + 2' high waterfall = 32' total length and height - or total water "in motion"
- 32' total length and height x 1.5' wide stream = 48' square feet
- Stream water depth is 1" deep over a 1" depth of river rock. River rock has 10%-50% open space. Total depth = 1.5" to account for water within the river rock
- Convert 1.5" depth into feet by dividing by 12
- 1.5" deep ÷ 12 = 0.125' deep
- (30 + 2 = 32) x 1.5 x .125 = 6 cubic feet of water
- 6 x 7.48 = 44.88 gallons that are withing the waterfalls and stream that must be contained inside the pondless reservoir basin.
Each Hydro Chamber™ holds 50 gallons of water above the pump, so this design would require just one Hydro Chamber™ to contain all the water when the pump is turned off.
Simply substitute your dimensions, length, height, width, and depth to calculate how much water your pondless waterfall design will need to hold in the reservoir.
Pondless Waterfall Reservoir Myth: Your water retention reservoir must hold 2-3 times the amount of water contained in the waterfall and stream.
Why? A gallon of water is a gallon of water. A gallon of water in a gallon jug is just fine. Why put a gallon of water inside 2-3 gallon jugs if you don't have too?
Why does 50 gallons of water in a typical rock and gravel pondless waterfall need to be contained in a basin that can hold 100 or more gallons of water? The answer is in the question. The rock and gravel take up space that would otherwise be filled by water.
Hydro Chambers™ hold nothing but water and a pump. That is why they are so accurate. Each Hydro Chamber™ holds 50 gallons of water "above the pump".
Slotted pump vaults and matrix blocks hold water adjacent to the pump, NOT above the pump - with river rock covering the matrix blocks. That is why they recommend the reservoir needs to be 2-3 times the size it needs to be - rock and gravel displacement.
